Student Journalists Learn "Ways Around Walls"

Thirty HBCU students were brought together from all over to make up the components of a newsroom staff.

Photo credit: Kimberly Whitfield/NYT Institute Students at the institute covered visit by President Bush.

The life of a journalist can be down, dirty and hard to the core. But for The New York Times Student Journalism Institute Class of 2004, the challenge came as a treat. According to the students at the institute, the payoff of hard work was nothing short of great experience and exposure.

Thirty HBCU students were brought together from all over to make up the components of a newsroom staff. For two weeks, the hard hats of the best and the brightest black college journalists were put to the test in reporting, copy editing, photography and design at Dillard University in New Orleans, May 16 to 30.

“Dillard has proved again that it is the perfect location to host a program of this magnitude,” said Don Hecker, former New York Times copy editor and director of the program. “We were given a computer lab that we made into a newsroom. And they offered us an extraordinary facility where no request could not be reached.”

The institute, which provides room and board along with a stipend of $200 per week, is an intensive program that offers students one-on-one training with staff of The New York Times, the Times regional newspapers, and other newspapers such as the Times-owned Boston Globe.

“We asked of them exactly what we would ask of a Times reporter,” said Hecker. “We sat and brought the best of our experience, and they brought us their enthusiasm and creativity.”

Russell Nichols, a senior at Florida A&M University, said the institute was unique because it was unlike any newsroom. “Everyone was the same age, from HBCU’s, and passionate about journalism,” said Nichols. It was because of that we bonded.”

Nichols is now interning at the Birmingham News in Alabama. “The newsroom here is comprised of all different age groups, from 20 to 70, said Nichols. “They are from different parts of the country with different levels of experience. At the institute, we were all coming from the same kinds of backgrounds and levels of experience. We could relate to each other.”

The level of intelligence of students at the institute surprised Howard University senior Courtney Wade, who is now interning at the Chicago Tribune. “There were people there that worked just as hard as me,” said Wade. “To see everyone working on their craft day in and day out from 9 to 12 made me feel good about what I love to do. No one thought I was a nerd because I love to be in the newsroom all day until 12.”

Wade was proud that she was able to utilize her skills as a reporter. “I am learning ways around walls,” said Wade. “I like to dig deeper. Finding the facts. Coming at a story with a different angle. Everything it takes to have a story, I’m willing to do.”

Kimberly Whitfield, a photographer at Grambling State University, didn’t know what to expect. “I was nervous at first,” said Whitfield. “But I got there and it was all fun. I got really good clips with the U.S. president. And the people are like family.”

Whitfield photographed President Bush at a commencement speech at Louisiana State University, and at an impromptu reception afterward at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport.

Family seems to be the tradition of the institute. Gabriel Maple, new Southern University graduate and a member of the inaugural class, was invited back by Hecker to tell students about her experience at the institute.

“Being invited by Don was an honor,” said Maple. “If my class could have come, they would have been there. I wanted the new class to know that the people at the institute are people you can call on.”

Maple believes interaction is what brought the group closer. “We went out, we were in dorms together, we shared TVs, and I brought all my girl accessories,” said Maple. “Two weeks of doing hair, bouncing stories and hanging in the newsroom, you can’t help but to love each other!”

Hampton University’s Janell Hazelwood served as a copy editor. “Meeting cool people with like interests meant we could share,” said Hazelwood. “I never had a great chance to copy edit, and I enjoyed nurturing people’s writing. Those late nights for two weeks just sealed the bond that we had.”

Hazelwood took tradition to the next level. “I came up with an idea of a ‘Yahoo Group,’ from an internship program that I was in before.” The “NYTimes04” Yahoo group that she created has a variety of resources, such as a message board, photo albums, files of resumes, member contact information, and links; all of which are easily accessible just by signing in. “Now we can keep up with each other, keep up the ideas, and keep the connection going,” said Hazelwood.

Most of the students in the program went on to an internship for the summer. And if they didn’t have an internship, the opportunity became available, said Whitfield. “I made a couple of professional contacts at the institute. I was offered a freelance position with The New York Tines, and I also have my first assignment.”

Perhaps the hands-on experience of reporting is one of the best aspects of the institute. “I believe all of what I learn comes from being in the field,” said Rhasheema Sweeting, a reporter from Howard University who is also an intern at the Chicago Tribune. “I feel prepared from what I experienced out of the classroom. I think that having done NYT not only sets me apart from non-HBCU counterparts, but it says that I have the extra experience,” said Sweeting. “I really feel prepared for the field of journalism.”

Hecker said he believes the future of the institute depends on students being the program’s advocates. “I was incredibly pleased this year,” said Hecker. “We had 50 percent more schools apply, and the program is getting better. Gabby was great talking to people and we hope that this program continues to expand at this pace.”

Michael Grant is a student at Grambling State University.

Posted July 13, 2004